Visit from a Friend

My good friend from Missouri came to see me again. I picked Sean up at the airport at night and on the way home I stopped the car on the side of the highway and told him to get out... he thought I was crazy until I joined him outside the car looking up at the sky. He said, "This looks like a planetarium! I feel like I can reach out and touch the starts!" It was a BEAUTIFULLY clear and starry night. The stars were out by the millions and were absolutely gorgeous!

I was trying to think of activities we could do together while we were here and one was most definitely feeding the ducks at the Columbia Park along the Columbia River. When we went to WinCo to pick up bread, Sean's eyes popped when I grabbed two full loafs. Then they popped even more when we arrived at the park and saw all the birds that were there. There were just a few people there feeding the ducks when we arrived, but it was crowded when we finally ran out of bread (10 minutes). Sean found that he loved to throw an entire slice into the water without ripping it up into small pieces and watch the frenzy that happened as a result. It was fun to see him laugh as he watched the birds which included swans, ducks, geese, and lots of seagulls!


We had a fun time catching up and hanging out. Sean and I are good friends and it's been so nice to get to spend some time with him. We enjoyed going places together and going on double dates with my roommate and her boyfriend. On my birthday we went out to Olive Garden and then went and saw the movie, Avatar! Wow... if you haven't seen this movie I suggest you get up off your tush and go buy a ticket! It's SOOO worth it! I laughed and cried and kicked the seat in front of me. You walk out of that movie with so much more than you walked in with. For me it just emphasized the way we need to care for our world and know that's its the only world we have. Plus to treat others with respect and watch my greed and teach Landon to respect the things he has and those around him.

We stopped at the Multnomah Falls on our way to the concert in Portland. While walking up to the falls, Sean saw this tree that was COVERED in green moss. He hadn't seen moss like that so of course after he felt it I had to get a picture. Things like this don't happen in Missouri I guess. I am so glad to be living in Washington though.


Then there were the falls as always. It always leaves me in a sense of awe of how beautiful the Lord's creations are and how blessed we are to be able to witness and experience some of them.

I loved this picture I took of the lower falls draining into a stream from the large and famous falls. Just loved the look of it. Thought of blowing it up and putting it on canvas so that I can have something relaxing right above my bed or in my room to look at when I can't leave. Peaceful and beautiful.

We went to an Epica concert which is Symphonic Metal. Never in my life did would I have chosen to listen to this if I came by it, but it was something that Sean introduced me to. He has really loved this group and their complex and very deep lyrics and words. They are a metal band which I have never really been privy to, but they are good. I have enjoyed listening to Simone's vocals and have come to appreciate Mark's grunt. The music is amazing and very different than any other. I can honestly say that if Simone wasn't included in this group to help "Soften" the metal I don't think I would like it one bit. But because of her I am able to appreciate the other parts.

This was us meeting Simone from Epica. Sean has had a crush on Simone for a LONG time. hehehe and was sooo nervous to finally get to meet her in person. It was such a fun night and they played my favorite song "Sancta Terra" which I loved. I couldn't get over how beautiful Simone was with her blazing red hair and beautiful vocals. I'm just glad she shares her talent with all us car-rocking and head bopping dorks.

Sean's visit was wonderful and I enjoy the friendship we have and the common interests we have. I miss having Sean here to talk to and enjoy watching movies together. He will be missed!

These are some VERY cute pictures of Landon that I took on our way to Portland to drop Sean off at the airport. I looked back and I saw Landon reading his My First Book of Mormon board book and smiled.



I love my son. He is amazing and I can't imagine my life without him. I love his smiles, his heart, his laugh, and his hugs and kisses. He has such a tender heart and loves to make good choices. He plays well with everyone and does what he's told most of the time. He is very good at hugging people goodbye and helping mom carry things in from the car. He LOVES playing games and wrestling around with me. I love him so much and am so grateful for him. These pictures endear me to him even more.

2009 Christmas

Again I know I have been late in my postings, but at least I'm doing them. :0)

The weekend before Christmas I went to Vancouver to see Kate and Mike and their kids. We went and had a blast. Korben and Landon played together so well and Logan was always on their heels or in the thick of the action. We went to Kate and Mike's ward Christmas party and first stopped in to see Santa!

Korben wouldn't go to sit on Santa's lap, but when we went back into the room to have the boys run around while Mike helped clean up, he had no qualms jumping in the chair and posing for the camera without the bearded Santa present. It had me laughing pretty hard.


This would be Mike wrangling up Logan after the 15th or so escape attempt. lol Logan has so much energy and I love how Kate stated it in her blog... Logan wants to escape where ever he is to get to.... who knows, but the other side is always greener for him. I didn't realize that she wasn't just elaborating this up, it is dead true. Logan loves to escape and who knows where he thinks he's going, but he aims to make it there. lol All I gotta say is Good Luck Mike and Kate!


This is Kate and Korben sitting together at the table waiting for them to say a prayer over the food. I love this picture because I was fiddling with my camera and finally found how to do black and white photos! So I took a testing shot and it was of Kate and Korben. Korben was enthralled with his WallE box game thing and Kate saw what I was up to and wanted! Kate's amazing. I love being around her!


I saw my college roommate there! She used to be Heidi Kidd, but now is Heidi Daniel! I was so glad to see her! She hasn't changed a bit in her demeanor. She is still as sweet, caring, kind, and lovable as ever! She has a family now too! Two little girls and a little boy. Heidi's husband is tall! But they make such a BEAUTIFUL family together! It was so good to sit and chat with her and catch up. I can't wait till I get to go down there again to see them! (and I didn't know till after I left that Landon had indeed placed stickers on my shirt... lol)



The day that we were leaving Kate and Mike's, I pushed my bed up against the wall so the kids could play on the floor of the guest bedroom/toy room. Well little did I know that the bed would actually be turned into a jungle gym toy for them. They climbed, jumped off, and rolled around on that thing for hours it seemed. It was so good to see those three little ones together playing and having fun. Landon is around so many women and girls that I love it when he is able to interact with boys close to his age to counteract all the girlishness he might get at our home.

This would be the boys playing all sorts of games and characters on the "put up bed" in the playroom. I never thought it was possible for a mattress to become the most popular toy in the toy room, but indeed it was. The boys didn't tire from it and I had to pry Landon away when it was time to leave and head home. Landon loved playing with Korben and Logan. "They's my best buds mom!" - Landon


Christmas was fun. It was relaxful for the most part and full of family and friends. I stayed home for Christmas and my family came up from Quincy to be at Leah's house on Christmas Eve to exchange Secret Santa gifts and to have Christmas dinner as a family. This is the first time that our family hasn't celebrated Christmas in Quincy! New traditions are happening. But it's not where you celebrate the holidays it's with whom your spend your holidays with. It was so much fun to see everyone together... even Jonathan came down from Job Corps. to be with us. Drake was only a couple weeks old and was fought over the entire time. lol



That night on Christmas Eve, Tiffany and I with our families got out sheets and towels and blankets to reenact the Nativity scene. My family had done this when I was about 5 or so.

I have pictures and video of that Christmas where my Grandpa Waggoner read from the scriptures as Leah and I were shepherds and Misty was Joseph, April was Mary, and Jenny was the Donkey that Mary rode on. We used Robes for outfits and hand towels for head coverings tied with string to keep them on. Mary wore a sheet tactfully wrapped around her and Jesus (the doll) was wrapped in a baby blanket. My dad and mom and Grandma sat off to the side and watched as Grandpa read from the scriptures. And when he told about Mary and Joseph traveling back to their place of birth, April, Misty, and Jenny entered from the hallway. April riding on Jenny's back with Misty helping to support her through the stifled giggles that inevitably happened. One thing that did happen that time that didn't this time was that Mary's sheet started coming undone during the reading. By the end of the reading, Mary was red-faced and calling for her mom to help her after part of it had fallen off. lol You see it was one of the best years of my Christmas memories.

So I decided to do it as a tradition. No matter if it was just Landon and I or others. Thankfully this year there were others. Tiffany was there and Nicole was supposed to be, but ended up staying with her dad that night... so we did a different scene the following day with her as Mary. But the night before it was Tiffany as Mary, Landon as Joseph, Landon's giraffe as Baby Jesus, and me as the Donkey. James read from the scriptures and Ashley conveniently was up in her room reading. Landon didn't like the fact that he had to stand by the donkey instead of riding on it with Mary, so he ended up jumping on too for the remainder of the reading as well as holding His Baby Jesus as he said. :0)

Then Christmas morning came and I had to wake Landon up! lol He was up late into the night and so was not a happy camper. But when I mentioned opening presents he was more than willing to come downstairs to join us. This year was the best for me. His dad gave him a Bumblebee Transformer which was automatically his favorite toy. He still hangs onto it and I find it in his clothes as I am doing laundry. Plus Landon's dad got to call and talk to him on Christmas, and so did Aunt Cami! It was fun to be able to talk to them both and I hadn't talk to Cami for so long that it was good to catch up. Back to presents...

Landon got a book from Grandma Fullmer. Last year he got The Fairy Godcow book which is like Cinderella with a Texas spin on it. This year he opened There's A Nightmare in My Closet! It's been a HIT! Landon asks me to read it every night before bed. He's now heard me read it so many times that he takes over on some pages to say what he knows is going to be read. It's so cute. Thank you Grandma Fullmer!


This is Tiffany and her two daughters Nicole (5) and Ashley Rae (17) on Christmas morning. She is my roommate and someone I look up to and a very good, dear friend of mine.

Landon got a face coloring set from Ashley Rae and so I volunteered to be his first model. He did a very good job as you can see. :0)

It was so much fun to watch Landon open his gifts and to have him sitting on my lap as he did so. This Christmas was so enjoyable. I realized that as I was getting stressed out with not being able to get Landon the amount of presents I had wanted, that it wasn't about presents. A girlfriend of mine said that she only gets her kids 3 gifts each because Jesus was given 3 gifts. I liked that thought and think that next year I will also make that a tradition.

This Christmas I was blessed with so many things. Some of the things that stand out in my mind is my ex-husband, James, and the friendship we are able to share now. My amazing in-laws families who still keep in touch with me. My family who still supports me and loves me though at times it's not easy. The amazing roommate I have who is more like a sister to me than a roommate. I am blessed with Landon and his amazing caring soul. He knows when I need a hug or kiss, he tries to scratch my back because he knows I like it. And he even says the dinner prayers when he is feeling confident and comfortable. I love him so much.

(Landon's new style of playing the piano that he thought of on Christmas Day. =) )

Baby Drake is Here! YAY!

Drake Linton
December 12th, 2009
5:40 pm
7 pounds 4 ounces
19 1/2 inches long

We finally were greeted by baby Drake. We have been so excited to have him with us and he's the cutest little dude ever. He has long black hair with a tint of brown in it. He has long ski-like feet (reminds me of Landon when he was born) and LOVES bathtimes already. He is so stinkin cute too! Leah was really stressed out by the labor experience after the horrible time of having Linzey. But after Drake was out and things were settling down she said, "Man, if I knew it was that easy I could have a baby everyday!" That was until she started nursing! lol But Leah was a rockstar and definitely is a good momma to both Linzey and Drake now. Thomas couldn't be more proud. And Linzey is such a great big sister. She loves to hold baby Drake and help her mom with things around the house while he's nursing. She loves to hold his hands and talk to him too. Soon I'm sure she's gonna be reading him stories and drawing him pictures.


This nurse was MY FAVORITE! If I ever have children I am going to request her. She was so funny and made me laugh till I was tearing up. As she was giving Drake his first washcloth bath, Linzey was asking if she was rubbing him too hard. Thomas told Linzey that she does this all the time and that she knows what she's doing. She later replied, "Yeah I only beat my own kids." I think you might have had to be there to get the humor in that, but it was priceless. She was always there when we needed her and she had an amazingly humorous way about her that I fell in love with from the first time she came in.


Thomas was talking about how big his feet were and I had to agree. This photo does do it justice, but Drake's feet were long! I loved this picture. Daddy's hand next to his little boys newborn foot. I don't think he's going to be able to keep his hand bigger than his son's foot for long. Before you know it you're buying shoes that are bigger than your own. Man they grow up to fast huh!



This was the following morning. Landon and I were the last of the family to come and visit that morning. We made a late start and April was already working. Mom was there with Linzey and I was able to hold my new nephew! He is a doll and was so good. Landon kept trying to get too close to him... like an inch away from his face... as you can tell he's not used to having such little people around. :) He'll learn quick though how close is appropriate.


The proud NaNa!
This is grandbaby number 9!


Mom and I took the kids to the duck pond and it would seem that the ducks, geese, seagulls, and any other fowl in the 10 mile radius knew we were coming. We helped the kids on the hood of the car after they were being ganged up on by the feathered animals. Landon didn't like it at all... it was too cold out. My hands were frozen by the time I got back into the car.

Landon finally got his turn to hold baby Drake. He as so happy, but baby Drake didn't like it too much... maybe next time my dear! I think Landon's going to be a great big-brother some day... who knows how far into the future that might be! o_O Landon is so gentle though and curious that it makes me laugh to see the delight of even being able to watch Drake.

It was hysterical. We didn't see this picture of Drake's eyes popping out till after we took it. We all missed it in person, but found it on camera. It was so funny. And Thomas is a great dad and holds Drake just right. Like I said, he couldn't have been a prouder papa!


Here Thomas is with Baby Drake sleeping. Drake is supposed to be burping any time now, but he seems to have fallen asleep on the job. :) Thomas is SOOOO cute with Drake too. Talking to him, changing his diapers, and taking him around the house with him wherever he goes. It's so cute to see how the two of them bond already.


Drake, we are so glad you came to us safely and that we are able to be there to see you grow up. Try to stop falling asleep while eating and I hope that daddy learns to protect himself when changing your diaper... he's had too many surprise leaks lately. Oh... and know that we all love you to peices and will always be there for you. Listen to mom and dad and stay close to that place you just came from called heaven.

Love you Baby Drake!

A Sawyer-Style Thanksgiving

When the Sawyer family gets together, it's nothing like other families. We don't have our typical quiet conversations where people keep from awkward or inappropriate subjects... our holiday gatherings involve food fights (which didn't happen this Thanksgiving thankfully), talking about body anatomies and sicknesses which would have some people covering their ears, a free-for-all buffet of food which is a crazefest, and slapping of arms when someone inevitably slips a bad word. But I have to tell you that I love our family gatherings. This was the first time in a LONG time that we have all been together. That is that five girls have gotten together with their families for Thanksgiving dinner. This year it was at NaNa's house in Quincy and Christmas will be at Leah's house in Pasco.

So of course because of this occasion we all had to be in the pictures which I insisted on. Who knows when we'll be getting together again? lol

From left to right it's Jennifer, Leah, Mom, and April in back with Me and Misty on the floor.

Now the reason for the boob squeezing shot. My mom went to Utah this year for a McCullen reunion with her sisters from Missouri. When they were together they had this picture where my mom reach across her sister and squeezed her other sister's boob... since that picture made it's debute I got together with Angie (my cousin) and we did the same shot. So it goes without saying that we would have to do it again with a familiy gathering... so this is what we got. :)


Leah was due on December 16th, even though she was going to be induced on the 12th if she hadn't had Baby Drake by then. Well flash forward, she has had him and that's my next blog, but here is Sam, Jenny's husband, letting us see his beer belly in comparison to Leah's prego belly. It was hysterical.

I was in Jiffy Car Wash visiting with my good friend Cheryl (who is amazing and an angel) and found this cup that had a big set of honkers on the front of it. I immediately thought of my sister, Misty. Misty had a size D chest since 5th grade and it's just grown since then, so this was HER gift. :)


Landon LOVES NaNa's ambulance. Anytime we hear sirens it's always followed by Landon saying, "That's my Nana mama!" lol He loves to explore the ambulance too... He's been around these since he was a few days old. He has loved them and I think it all began with knowing his Grandma works on it. He knows the difference between a fire truck and an ambulance. This smile was a forced one because he didn't know who to look at. :)

This Thanksgiving was a great one. Jonathan came down from Job Corps in Curlew and April, Leah, and I and our families were able to make it safely from Tri-Cities. So it was a great family gathering and hopefully we'll have another addition to our numbers this coming Christmas celebration.

I have to say that this Thanksgiving I am thankful for my son who is the core of my life and the reason I wake up smiling, for my family who has continued to support me and love me, for my friends who buoy me up on my bad slumps and make me laugh when I want to cry, for my faith which keeps me going and looking forward to the future, for chocolate which gives me enough of a boost to keep me going any given day, and I am so grateful for the armed forces and those individuals who put their lives on the line so that I can enjoy mine and relax without worry of bombings on our streets and dictators over our land. I am thankful for our freedoms and for those that forged this way of life for us back when the war with England was waged. Thank goodness they stood up then, and thank goodness we have men and women brave enough to stand up now. God bless them.

Utah Trip Babe!

I went on a road trip down to Utah for Mary Kay Summit. I traveled with amazing ladies and love them more and more the more I am around them. They inspire me, pump me up, make me feel like a million bucks, have me laughing till my side is killing me and tears are welling up, and surprise me by their giving and totally outgoing personalities. I needed this trip. And I am so glad I was able to go on it. I had made arrangements to stay with my cousin, Angie while down there whom I haven't seen FOREVER! So this was a doubly meaningful trip.

Below would be the most amazing woman, Laura Francis, who blows my mind with how uninhibited she is by pressures in her life. She is also a single mom and has been doing Mary Kay a little longer than I have. She is the BOMB! Laura is a lot like me as we both burst out into song at random moments, love to laugh, and LOVE to have fun no matter where we are. On this trip Laura and I were NOT allowed to be in the same car together because the other car would most definitely fall asleep. So we were split the entire way there. :( But we got to get out and mingle at pit-stops and gas stations which was always enjoyable. Oh! And the one doing the peace out sign in the background is Cherrie! She is phenomenal! She is 20 years old and down at Summit she was THE #1 Queen of Sales which means she sold the most in our national area. She rocks too and definitely has it going on. Fun loving and quirky, she is a natural fit into our craziness. :)
These are all the ladies that carpooled down with us in our two vehicles. Mind you there were other car pools going on down, but this was ours. :) From Left to Right: Jessica, Laura, Cherri, and AnnMarie with me being a dork. :) I totally have to tell you that it wasn't until my 2nd 16 oz. Slurpee that I was told that those were NOT smoothies with fruit in them like I thought they were, they are pretty much sugar, ice shavings, and artificial flavoring. Yeah... I was flying on a sugar high the entire way down there. And then was completely turned off to Slurpee because I didn't know that it was pretty much sugar. And could see it sticking to my stomach and thighs. :)

When we got down to Utah and I stayed the first night at Jessica's Aunt's house. We didn't get in till like 3am or so. It was so late! But we crashed and slept in. I met up with Angie, my cousin, the following day and was SOOOO happy to see her. She has always been one that I have looked up to and enjoyed being around. My mom had just been down earlier that summer to stay with her and her sister's flew in from Missouri so it was a girls weekend there.

I loved hearing the stories from their stay. It's so easy to talk to Angie and she and her husband, Chris, give the best sound advice I've needed. :) They have 2 children: Ethan and Tinley. Their kids are absolutely amazing. Ethan is doing awesome in school and is taller than Angie or I! He has such a tender, caring heart and that was brought out at the end of our visit... which I'll tell you about below. Tinley is the sweetest girl with all the energy in the world. She is a dancer and loves to show you moves all the time that she learned in gymnastics.


I didn't know that Utah had another temple till Angie suggested we go see it. It's what my mom and her sisters did too! So we went and took TONS of pictures while enjoying and soaking in the beauty of the temple area. The day was brisk, a little breezy, but perfect otherwise. The Draper Temple is amazing and I loved the feeling that you get when you're on the temple grounds.


Then we went to view the spot where you can see all 5 temples in the same spot. Of course it was on the side of one of the mountains above the Draper Temple, but it was so much fun. This is me taking in the awesome view. We had so much fun this day. It was beautiful and sunny! But on the way home Angie told me that she wasn't feeling so hot. You see 2 of the neighbors in her neighborhood had gotten swine flu that week.... the one she is closest to because their kids are inseparable had just gotten her 1 year old son confirmed with swine flu the first night I stayed there. So when Angie told me this I realized that we had both been hiding the fact and ignoring not feeling well and had pushed ourselves because the other was there and acting too. So we went back to the house to drop kids off and head to the doctor's office to get tested for swine flu.

Both of us were running low grade fevers. And the doctor saw us and told us that they are not testing for swine flu and unless we were a high risk case, they would not treat us for it with the shot. So he sent us home and told us to lock ourselves away from others because we sounded like we had it with our symptoms, but would just have to wait it out. So home we went and we put our masks on which were EXTREMELY fashionable to clean and bleach the entire house up and down. She has a family there and didn't want the rest of her family to get Swine Flu if that was in fact what we had. So after that we clad ourselves in pjs and busted out the movies in her room on her bed. So my trip for Mary Kay became 3 days of sick bed enclosed cousin time. I couldn't have been happier being sick with anyone else. :)

Angie got me hooked on the new Pride and Prejudice which I have always had a slight dislike for because of growing up with the original 5+ hour one. All in all it was a wonderful weekend where I was able to bond with my cousin which I loved. I missed my son, but brought him back some surprises that he loved from my trip. :)